Handsome is as Handsome Does

I went to the dentist for the first time when I was in my 20s. And since I have decent teeth, I never really needed to go too often. So all was well till one of my fillings fell out after 5 years of loyal service. Being true to myself, I focused on the hardships around finding a good dentist in Bangalore (forget about the one that's 2 min from work - that's too easy) instead of preventing what ensued....

During a wonderful meal on my last trip to Cal, a corner of my poor unfilled tooth fell out onto my plate, leaving in its place a lovely gaping hole. That was 3 months ago. After a lot of persuasion from my sister, I dragged myself to her dentist; and only after she told me how good looking he was. Well anyway, I went and of course he tells me that I need a root canal. Yawn - what a surprise! But he was so considerate that he filled up two other teeth and relieved me of a couple of days' pay. By the way, I misunderstood. It's not this guy that's good looking; it's his partner - the one who does the root canals. So all was not lost...I still had something to look forward to.

On the fateful day, I rise early and eat a full meal like a condemned man. Who knows when I'll ever be able to eat again. Got to my appointment on time, looking for a hunk in a white coat. I see someone in a white coat alright, but he had a surgical mask on, so I couldn't tell if my sister was right. I waited with bated breath for the mask to come off. He says hi through it! Then he realized it's rude, so he pulls it off and introduces himself. And no. He's not handsome. Not at all. I'm like "Now wait a minute. It's bad enough I need to do a root canal; to top that you're not what they said you were! I've been had!!"

With a sigh I lay down in that godawful chair. The doc did have a good chairside manner though. Asked if I needed a cushion (I said yes), asked if I wanted the radio on (No, I don't like to be distracted when I am stressing), said it wouldn't hurt at all after the first tiny prick of the needle (Yeah right!). So he squirts the anaesthetic out of the syringe and inserts it in my gum. Hurt like 0.5 on 10. So that was OK. Then he says that's the worst of the pain. I narrow my eyes in response - it's difficult to voice suspicion when your mouth is full of metal and cotton. But he was right.

Gradually I noticed how much better looking he was getting. With each painless prod his features (behind his mask) got sharper and more Grecian. With each "Rinse your mouth please" his bald head started to look sophisticated rather than ...well...bald. By the end of that one-sitting root canal that "went beautifully" he was the most gorgeous man I have ever laid eyes on.

I still think so. I have felt nary a twinge and it's been two days! This guy was unbelievably great! I never thought there could be such a thing as a painless root canal. Doesn't this prove that beauty lies in a strong anaesthetic?!

Note: I'm sure you want to know why I have a picture of a pot of biryani - that's what made my tooth fall out!